58 Chevy Delray sedan *Update 1/24*

[tomsheehy]

Getting into the final stretch with this one...

I found some photos on the big "I" of some old Ann Arbor, Michigan police cars.  Apparently, in 1958 they started using a very unusual tri-color paint scheme that paid homage to the hometown University of Michigan, whose colors are gold and blue.  The cars were painted gold, with white roofs & doors with dark blue hoods and trunks. They used this color scheme until the early 70s I believe.   Basically, it looks pretty awful, but just one of those replicas that I had to do.  I used Testors lacquer pure gold as the best match I could find.  Tamiya dark blue was used for the blue.  The paint is now done and came out pretty good right out of the can, just a few touch ups to do, then BMF.

Started with the Bandit Resin 58 Biscayne sedan, I sanded off some trim to lower it to a Delray.  I'm using parts from both the AMT and Revell versions, which has led to some complications, but nothing too formidable.  The engine if from the Revell, as well as some of the suspension.  I will try to use the Revell one-piece front grille, but time will tell if that'll work well enough.  The door decals are being made for me.  

A progress shot of the paint job, with a couple of AAPD images to give you the idea of the real thing. I attached the Ford photo to give you all an idea of the colors (you can just barely make of the blue)

Edited January 24, 2016 by tomsheehy

[GTJUNIOR]

Interesting subject. 

[hedotwo]

Following this one....  so far, so good

[Crazy Ed]

What's with the clear Stop on the hoods of the cars?

[DumpyDan]

Looks like a neat little project, I will be watching

[talon63]

What's with the clear Stop on the hoods of the cars?

https://www.facebook.com/MichiganStatePolice/posts/387896307916247 explains it

[Bob Ellis]

It's interesting that up until the late '60s, most police cars were 2drs.

[Agent G]

Oh yeah, I'm watching this one.

G

[talon63]

It's interesting that up until the late '60s, most police cars were 2drs.

Patrol units would do just that. Patrol. They'd call the wagon for any pick-ups required.

[Bob Ellis]

That's a good point about the wagons, AKA Paddy Wagons.

[Mr. Metallic]

Hey Tom. I miss being able to see your projects all the time. Glad I can follow them here now.

Looking forward to seeing more of this "ugly duckling"

[bonehead23]

This really intrigues me! Especially the photo of the entire fleet of '58 Chevys!!! I wonder, where are they now, and did they have the 348 engine? Very interesting...I am building a Flintstone '58 sedan delivery  but was unaware there were plain ol' sedans out there. I would love a 58 Bel Air; dad had one, a gorgeous 283 powered blue and white beauty. He totalled it in '65. It was a 4-door though...might be hard to find.

[Crazy Ed]

https://www.facebook.com/MichiganStatePolice/posts/387896307916247 explains it

   Interesting, Thanks

[Danno]

Great start, Tom. Another good-looking patrol car on the way!  

The '58 Chevy is a fascinating design for a police car in the first place.  Ann Arbor's markings scheme was unique, to say the least.  Quite a combination.

[Agent G]

That's a good point about the wagons, AKA Paddy Wagons.

A bit o' knowledge if I may.

The term was originally "Paddy's wagon". Essentially most cops before the turn of the century were immigrants. The old "Irish need not apply" thing you know. PD's took the Irish and their European brethren in vast numbers.

(As a side note, interestingly enough, St Louis has a history of Eastern European, Syrian and Lebanese coppers dating back to nearly the inception of the agency in 1859). but i digress...........i

Cincinnati  developed the "patrol wagon" concept in the late 1880's. This morphed into the Paddy Wagon or, as known in my in my town, a "Black Mariah". Seems St Louis' wagons were built at a shop known for building hearses.

Same concept except the passenger in one is lying down, and in the other sits up, and they were black.

G

 

[Taxdude]

Having grown  up in Ann Arbor I find this very cool.  Especially since half of the police cars around town now have lo-vis markings.

[W-409]

This is interesting! I'm happy to see a different '58 Chevy than the usual Impala (Which is very nice car too) and especially seeing one built as a Cop Car is interesting, because that's something quite unusual. Start looks very good already, keep the pictures coming!

[tomsheehy]

Updated images...model is basically done, just waiting for the door decals.  This one fought me quite a bit towards the end.  No matter how much I measured and test fitted the windows, when it came time to install they were tough to make them look right.

Everything else came out fairly well.  Most of the donor parts are from the AMT version, but I did use the Revell engine and engine bay parts, and the rear axle set up, which I had to modify a bit.  Paint is Testors pure gold, with Tamiya bright white and TS55 dark blue.  The hood's "shark fin" was adapted from a diecast Michigan State Police car, with the wording changed to be a non-state police unit.  (Police-Stop-Police).  I'll post more in the under glass section once the decals are done...

[tomsheehy]

Here's the hood

[Agent G]

Very nice!

G

[ChrisBcritter]

I would love a 58 Bel Air; dad had one, a gorgeous 283 powered blue and white beauty. He totalled it in '65. It was a 4-door though...might be hard to find.

We had one as well; Cay Coral and white - my uncle loaned it to us while he was overseas in the early sixties.

If you want to build a four-door, look for the original promo - the warpage/shrinkage usually makes the rear end fold down but you could probably pie-cut it at the rear door lines to straighten it.

Edited January 24, 2016 by ChrisBcritter